"Maybe we should set up camp outside. It’s not THAT cold outside, really."
"It’s snowing," Marcurio whispered back at me. "Besides, aren’t you the least bit curious about what’s going on in here?"
"Not really," I replied, shaking my head. "The last time I was ‘curious’ I ended up several hundred feet above Skyrim. Have you forgotten the time I ended up inside a soul gem? What about that time…"
"Quiet!" whispered Rayya. "There’s someone up ahead!"
We slowed our pace and carefully made our way through the dark corridor as we followed the echoes of a conversation. Teldryn disappeared ahead of us.
"God’s, what a mess," someone remarked.
"Yeah," answered another gruff voice, "he’s after Ra’jirr — never seen him so angry."
"I’ve got a bad feeling about this…something’s just felt wrong down there lately. Eerie."
"Now you’re sounding as crazy as the cat. Be going on about the Pale Lady next."
Teldryn reappeared as quietly as he had left, and held up two fingers. With a nod, I went ahead. The corridor led us to the upper level of a large, circular chamber. Below us, the two bandits sat drinking at a small table, seemingly unaware that they were surrounded. With a quick strike from my bow, the larger of the thugs fell with a sudden thump onto the table. Marcurio took care of the other before he had a chance to realize what was happening.
"Okay," I said, turning to Marcurio after we confirmed that chamber was clear. "What do you know about the Pale Lady?"
Marcurio cleared his throat, happy to finally put his knowledge of strange and arcane lore to use. “It’s a popular tale in Morthal. They say that the Pale Lady is the ghost of a woman who wanders the marshes, forever seeking her lost daughter. On some nights, you can hear her sobbing wail as she wanders around looking for her. Some say she steals children who wander off from their homes. Of course, this is all just a tale to scare children into behaving.”
"Pale Lady or not, there might be something sinister down there," said Teldryn, waving a beaten journal. "Says here that they found an underground forest and a strange blade. A combination like that always spells trouble, in my experience."